Pope Leo XIV to Make First-Ever Visit to Spanish Parliament

The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain, scheduled for June 2026, is growing into an event of immense historical and political significance. The Holy See and the Spanish Congress of Deputies have agreed on the Holy Father's participation in a solemn session of the Cortes Generales. This will be the first time in history that the head of the Catholic Church delivers a speech within the walls of the Spanish parliament. This event, set for June 8, constitutes a symbolic gesture of rapprochement in relations between the state and the Vatican. Logistical preparations, described by the local Ministry of Defense as a top-tier challenge, have already begun, and the government assures full readiness to host the guest. The pilgrimage program also includes a visit to Barcelona, which is to be imbued with cultural and religious accents. Leo XIV will visit the Sagrada Familia basilica, where a holy mass and an offering at the tomb of the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudí are planned. The Archdiocese of Barcelona hopes that the Pope's presence will extend beyond the Catholic community and become a source of joy for all residents. Nevertheless, the visit takes place in a complicated social context. The media speculate about Vatican pressure to regulate the issue of compensation for victims of sexual abuse in the Church, although the Spanish episcopate firmly denies that the trip is conditional on any agreement with the government on this matter. The last papal visit to Spain took place in 2011, when Benedict XVI came to Madrid for World Youth Day. Relations between Madrid and the Vatican have been variable over the last centuries, from the status of the "most Catholic nation" to periods of strong state secularism. Simultaneously with preparations for the journey, Leo XIV has caused a stir with his latest guidelines concerning technology. The Holy Father has instructed priests to stop writing sermons using ChatGPT. The Pope argues that "the brain must be used," and homilies should flow from the heart and personal experience of faith, not from algorithmic algorithms. This firm warning sheds light on the Vatican's broader concerns about the loss of humanism in the digital era. Before flying to Spain, the Pope also plans to visit the Roman district of Quatricciolo, known for its high crime rate, which aligns with his line of supporting the peripheries. Additionally, Leo XIV is to visit a small European principality, which will be the first visit by a successor of St. Peter to that place in nearly five hundred years, highlighting the unique character of his upcoming travels. „El cerebro debe ser usado y el corazón debe sentir. Una homilía no es un algoritmo.” (The brain must be used and the heart must feel. A homily is not an algorithm.) — Leo XIV Internal tensions within the Spanish Church are also fueled by the issue of political polarization, which, according to bishops, is beginning to permeate parish communities. There are concerns that the Pope's visit could be exploited in disputes between parties, especially in the context of the debate on migration and the role of the far right. The episcopate avoids commenting on the Pope's private conversations with hierarchs, in which warnings against the radicalization of sentiments were reportedly voiced. Despite these difficulties, Spain declares that it will rise to the occasion to ensure security and a dignified setting for all events involving the Bishop of Rome.